The NHL released the full 2025-26 regular-season schedule on Wednesday, and it is riddled with exciting matchups.
Here are some key dates, with game times are listed in Eastern time.
Oct. 7: Opening Night
The 2025-26 campaign will kick off with a tripleheader on opening night. The evening begins with the Chicago Blackhawks and the Florida Panthers at 5 p.m. Florida will raise its second straight championship banner at Amalie Bank Arena ahead of puck drop.
At 8 p.m., the New York Rangers will host the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden. This will be Mike Sullivan’s first game as the Rangers' coach, and he’ll take on his old team, where he won two Stanley Cup championships and stood behind the bench for 10 seasons. Sullivan’s return to Pittsburgh is just a few days later on Oct. 11.
The final contest of the night will be between two Western Conference teams, with puck drop at 10:30 p.m. The Colorado Avalanche will take on the Los Angeles Kings, two teams that hold a sour taste in their mouths after being eliminated in the first round of last season’s playoffs.
Oct. 11 And 28: All 32 Teams In Action
The NHL has tried out the Frozen Frenzy over the last two seasons, where a new game starts every 15 to 30 minutes. That day will be Oct. 28, beginning with Pittsburgh and the Philadelphia Flyers at 6 p.m. and finishing with the Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks at 11 p.m. On Oct. 11, eight games start at 7 p.m.
Oct. 21: Brad Marchand Comes Back To Boston
At the trade deadline, the Boston Bruins traded left winger Brad Marchand to Florida and eventually won his second Stanley Cup. On Oct. 21, the Panthers will visit TD Garden, and Marchand will face the Bruins for the first time after playing 1,090 games across 16 seasons.
Nov. 14 And 16: NHL Global Series
Avicii Arena in Stockholm will host NHL games once again as the Nashville Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins face off in Sweden. Notable Swedes on both teams include Filip Forsberg, Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell.
Nov. 22: Stanley Cup Final Rematch, Again
Every season, there are two Stanley Cup final rematch games, and this one is between Florida and the Edmonton Oilers for a second-straight year. On Nov. 22, a different-looking Oilers team will take on a similar Panthers squad. Last season, Edmonton lost both regular-season matchups to Florida, 6-5 and 4-3 on Dec. 16 and Feb. 27, respectively.
Jan. 2 And Feb. 1: Panthers And Lightning Host Outdoor Games
The Rangers take on the Panthers at loanDepot Park in Miami for the 2026 NHL Winter Classic. Nearly one month later, the Tampa Bay Lightning host the Bruins at Raymond James Stadium.
Jan. 23: Mitch Marner Returns To Toronto
All Toronto Maple Leafs fans will be marking Jan. 23 on their calendars as it marks the return of Mitch Marner. The Vegas Golden Knights swing by Toronto during a four-game Atlantic Division road trip.
Marner’s tenure in Toronto ended on a sour note as fans booed the team and threw jerseys on the ice in the closing moments of Game 7 against Florida in the second round of the post-season. It’ll be interesting to see the reception he gets when he returns to Scotiabank Arena.
Feb. 6 to 24: Olympic Break
In the middle of February, NHL players will compete in the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014. The 2026 Olympic Games will be hosted in Milan, Italy, beginning on Feb. 11. Puck-drop times vary between 6:10 a.m. and 3:10 p.m., including the gold medal game on Feb. 22 at 8:10 a.m.
In addition to the dates of when the Winter Games begin, all the teams competing in these Olympics must submit their full rosters later in the year. All 12 nations released their preliminary rosters of six players on June 16.
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